Regents consider tuition hike for business students

Eric W. Kaler
Eric W. Kaler, president of the University of Minnesota.
Photo from Stony Brook University

The University of Minnesota's board of regents will consider a plan Thursday to raise tuition on business majors higher than other university students.

The proposal would increase annual tuition by $2,000 on students at the Carlson School of Management.

University president Eric Kaler made the case for differential tuition at a speech in front of business school faculty and alumni Tuesday. The extra tuition revenue would help the Carlson School attract top teaching talent and bolster scholarship funds, Kaler said.

"State support for the Carlson School is now less than 4 percent of its budget, Kaler said "In order to retain world class faculty, to hire new faculty and to adequately keep pace with the growth and demand the college must be able to increase revenues as far as the market will allow."

It's a model other universities follow. The U of M is the only Big 10 school that doesn't charge differential tuition, Kaler said.

The regents will vote on the proposal in the spring. If approved it would go into effect gradually over four years.